Gales halt Island
Reports in the County Press, the Isle of Wight’s independent newspaper, show the effect of just one storm.
Thousands lost electricity supply, a flood arrived in the capital town Newport, a tanker ship ran aground and the ferries were battered into paralysis.
electricity lost
More than 1,000 homes in the East Wight area were left without electricity this morning (Monday) after strong gales brought down power lines.
A Southern Electric spokesman confirmed electricity supplies to Ryde, Bembridge and St Helens went down at 6.15am. Supplies had been restored to all but three homes in Ryde by late morning and it was hoped these homes would be back to normal supply in the afternoon.
tanker aground
The 11,000-tonne tanker, Astral, which ran aground off the Isle of Wwight coast, was carrying almost 9,000 tons of fuel oil, bound for Fawley oil refinery, Southampton. It lost its rudder and steering in the strong gales experienced across the south of England.
ferries battered
All island ferry services were disrupted this morning (Monday) because of the high winds across The Solent.
Wightlink advised customers to use its car ferry service after suspending the catamaran between Ryde and Portsmouth.
Red Funnel also suspended its early high-speed services between West Cowes and Southampton.
The Hovertravel service between Ryde and Southsea was also suspended.
flood alert
Islanders were bracing themselves this afternoon (Monday) as predicted flooding began to materialise amid high winds and torrential rain.
At Newport Quay, the River Medina burst its banks, leaving Quay Arts flooded. We note that this area is currently the subject of a planning application for a massive development. Underground garages would be regularly flooded, leaving new residents with insurance bills.
insurance costs
Nick Starling, the director of general insurance and health at the Association of British Insurers, said: “Events like this can cost hundreds of millions of pounds”.
Meanwhile, experts said the severe flooding that hit parts of the UK last summer was an “exceptional event”. Analysts at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology said it did not appear to be linked to global warming. [more]
opinion
But we have been told that climate change will lead to more ‘exceptional events’ rather than balmy summer evenings. Is this what we should expect?
And when oil prices escalate ferry prices, electricity blackouts and insurance costs, this disruption will become ‘normal’.
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